Envelop-opener.



No. 627,758. Patented June 27, |899. G. F. MCKEEVEH.

ENvELoP OPENER.

(Application filed Mar. 18, 1899.)

` No Model.)

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UNITEDA STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. MCKEEVER, OF ALLEGIIENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ENvELoP-'oPENl-:Rj

SPCITION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 627,758,` dated J' une 27, 1899.

Application filed Mlll 1 31 1 8 9 9- To all whom t may'concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE F. MoKEEvER, a resident of Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Envelop-Openers; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention `relates to envelop-openers, its object being to provide a simple, durable, and inexpensive form of envelop-opener.

To these ends my invention comprises, generally stated, an envelop-opener comprising a body portion formedl of one piece of sheet metal of proper resiliency', said metal being bent toform an upper plate and a lower plate, the said upper plate having a downwardlyi extending gage and a cutting-knife and saidlower plate supporting a stationary knife which acts in conjunction with said first-mentioned knife to out the edge of the envelop inserted in the cutting position.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will describe'the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis a perspective view of my improved envelop-opener. Fig. 2 is a front or face view of same; and Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3 8, Fig. 2.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each view.

In the accompanying drawings the refer# ence-letter a designates the body portion of my improved envelop-opener, said bodyportion being formed of sheet metal of the proper gage and resiliency. I prefer to employ crucible spring-steel, although other metals possessing sufficient resiliency may be employed. The sheet metal is bent in the manner shown,

as at a', so as to form the upper and lower' upper cutting-knife c is formed in this gage b, said knife being formed by cutting the metal in said gage in the manner illustrated, so as sain No. 109,608. on; modelo A to permit of the outward projection ofthe knife beyond the face of the gage. The lower edge of the cutting-knife i's then properly sharpened. The bottom plate as extends beyond the top plate a2, and said bottom plate is bent up in such shape as to form the support d, which carries the stationary knife e. This stationary knife e may be secured to the support d byvmeans of the screws f, with the nuts f engaging therewith. The opening in the support d, through which the screw f passes, is slotted, so as to permit of the adj ustment of the knife e to andfrom the gage b.

In constructing my improved envelopopener the metal is so bent to form the same that the upper plate a2 thereof is higher at 4one end than at the other, so that the knife c will at one end lbe normally below the stationary knife. By this constrction when the upper plate a2 is lowered in the cutting operation vthere is no liability of the upper knife coming in contact with the stationaryA knife, so as to interfere in any Way with the downward vmovement of the upper knife.

NVhen it is desired to open an envelop With my improved envelop-opener, the envelop rests upon the stationary knife e andthe outer edge of the envelop is pressed against the gage b. With the other hand the operator then grasps the handle or knob g and forces down the upper plate a2, carrying with it the knife c. By this'actionthe edge of the envelop is sheared o, and when the voperator removes the pressure from the knob g the upper plate a2, due to the spring of the` metal, resumes its normal position ready for the next operation. As stated before, the body portion of the envelop-opener is made of `spring metal with sufficient resiliency so that'the bend a' will act as a hinge and that after the cutting operation the upperlplate a2 will return to its normal position.

By the above construction Ifprovide a simple form of envelopopener which is durable and inexpensive. The body portion is formed of one piece of metal, and the necessity of separate top and bottom plates connected by hinges is avoided.

I do not wish to limit myself to theexact construction illustrated, as that may be varied in certain details without aecting the spirit of my invention.

IOO

What I claim as my invention, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an envelop-opener, a body portion formed of sheet metal bent to form an upper and lower plate, the lower plate acting as a base or support, said upper plate being bent to form a downwardly-projecting gage, a knife formed. Within said gage by slitting the metal longitudinally and vertically at each end of the longitudinal out, and a stationary knife carried by the lower plate, substantially as set forth. p n

2. In an envelop-opener, a body portion formed of sheet metal bent to form an upper and lower plate, the lower plate acting as a I5 stationary knife carried by the lower plate, 2o

substantially as set forth. l

In testimony whereof I, the said GEORGE F. MCKEEVER, have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE F. MOKEEVER.

Witnesses:

ROBT. D. TOTTEN, ROBERT C. TOTTEN. 

